Surgical truss and the like



Nov. 6 1923. 1,473,539

v T. BEASLEY SURGICAL TRUss AND THE LIKE Filed March 5. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 heetI 2 JZ 3 Sheets-S T BEASLEY SURGICAL TRUSS AND THE LIKE Filed 'March 5 1925 @azi 2M ,A

Nov. 6, 1923.

Nov. 6 1923.

T. BEASLEY SURGICAL TRUSS A ND THE LIKE Filed March 5. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet f5 Patented Nov. 6, i923.

UNITE "EAT SURGICAL TRUSS AND THE LIKE.

Application ledMarch 5, 1923. Serial No. 622,995.'

T o all whom t may concer/n,

Be it known Ythat I, THOMAS BEASLEY, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 36 Meadow' Road, Merton, in the county of Surrey, in the Kingdom of Eng` land, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relatingl to Surgical lTrusses and the like, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in surgical trusses and the like of the type in which detachable and adjustably inflatable pads are adapted to be adjustably secured on a belt or the like.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved surgical truss of thek above type which can be worn with the greatest comfort by the weakest and most sensitive persons to obviate the objections of rupture or act as a preventative o f such complaints.

A further object is to provide a device of the above character in which the lmeans for regulating the pressure inl the inflatable pads is such that the parts may be adjusted and the pressure may be regulated to suit the wearer, for instance, whilst the device is being worn.

A further object is to provide inflatable pads with a backing of substantially nonresilient material so shaped that it can be readily placed on any desired body belt, such as belts of webbing, leather or rubber, thus providing a truss which can be adapted to be worn at any time for instance by day, night or during bathing.

According to this invention a screw adjustable valve is connected by a flexible connection to a pad which is fitted or formed on a plate or backing so shaped, such as by having substantially vertically arranged slots, that the said pad may be vslidably arranged on and be automatically secured to a body belt or the likeso that the pads can be readily fitted and adjusted-on the said belt and the pressure of the pads can be regulated whilst in use. y

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichz- Figure 1- isa perspective view of one form of double truss constructed according to this invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of one of the pads and part of the Securing belt drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the inner side of the pad shown in Figure 2;

Figuretis a cross sectiontaken substantially on the line a-a of Figurey 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevationk of one of the interior bladders showing my preferred form of valve and pump attached thereto;

Figure 6A is an elevation of a modified form of pad; f

Figure 7 is an elevation of the pad shown in Figure v6 lookingY in the reverse direction;

Figure 8 is a vertical section thereof;

Figure 9 is a view similar tor Figure 2 of a further modified construction;

Figure 10 is a vertical section-thereof;

Y Figure 11 is a sectional detail of a modified form of valve; y

Fig. 12 is a sectional view illustrating a slightly modified form of pad.

As shown, more particularly in Figures l to 4, each pad member comprises a casing member 1 for a bladder or the likef2 which casing member is adapted to be secured around its edges between a fiat back or base plate 3 Vand a clamping ring 4. The base plate 3 is of any suitable material preferably metal suchv as aluminum, but Vit will be understood that it may be formed. with anyVY non-resilient or partly resilient material, such as leather, wood or any suitable composition. The edges of the casing member 1 are firmly clamped between the plates 3 and Ll, by means of screws 5l adapted 'to screw into the said ring 4. The back plate 3 is preferably of substantially circular shape and is provided at opposite sides with slots 6 preferably of arcuate shape for the reception of the body belt 7 which is threaded therethrough. ThisV body belt 7 which may be of the usual construction and ofV webbing or 'elastic material is fitted with a buckle 8 whereby it can be adjusted `in the usual manner. Fach back plate3 is also formed with an intermediately arranged slot 9 for the reception of one end of the belt l0 which is adapted to pass around the hips in the usual manner. One end of this hip belt 10 is secured to the plate 3 preferably byhemming over the end of the belt andthe other end is secured by means of'a buckle 11 to a loop-strap 12 preferably slidably arranged on the body belt 7 The bladder or the like 2which is adapted to'fitwithin the heinispherically or otherwise shaped casing l of each pad member is preferably conw valve in the well known manner.

structed of rubber and formed or provided with a resilient tube 13. This resilient tube 13 which is arranged at any convenient part of the bladder 2 is adapted to project through a hole 14 in the casing 1 which latter is preferably constructed or' washleather or the like. lf desired, the casing 1 may be provided with a washleather or like flap 15 to prevent the rubbing of the lower end of the plate 5 against the wearer. The outer end of each resilient 'tube 13 is fitted with a valve of any 'convenient' form. In this instance the valve comprises a pair of threadedly connecting members 16 and 17 yconstructed of vulcanite or other suitable material. The member 16 is adapted to be secured in anyy convenient manner to the resilient tube 13 and the member 17 is provided with a threaded nipple 18 onwlii'ch is adapted to be screwed any convenient form of pump indicated at 19, in Figure 5. Between themeinbers 16 and 17 is arranged a ball valve which is adapted to operate in the manner to be hereinafter described. The pump 19 is constructed of resilient material and is formed with a bulb portion in one end on which is tted a suitablenonreturn valve 21. the other end ybeingV i'itted with a vulcanite threaded extension 22 adapted to screw on the threaded nipple 1S. It desired, the bladder or the like 2 may be formed with an enlargement 23 adjacent to the back plate 3 so that should the bladder 2 become accidentally deflated, the pad would C not wholly collapse and still be, to a certain extent, eilective. The appliance is adapted to be worn in the usual manner and may be provided with either one or two pads according to whether it is required for a single or double rupture. The desired pressure in the pads is obtained by screwing the pump 19 on to the threaded nipple 18 and squeezing the spherical portion of the pump in the well known manner, after the member 17 is given a certain rotation Ato bring the parts into the position indicatedin full lines in Figure 5. This rotation oi the member 17 will allow the ball 20 to be Afree between the orifices inthe parts 16 and 17 and act as a The air entering the valve 21 in the pump 19 will pass the valve 2 0 Hinto the bladder or the like 2. When sufficient air is forced into the bladder 2 to obtain the required pressure, the member 17 vis screwed upon the member 16`so as to lock the ball 2OV in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5.' The pump 19 can now be uns'crewed and removed from the member 17 until again required. ,Should the pressure of the pad be more than desired, ther-member 17 can be unscrewed The member 17 being the pad outwardly and against the body of Y the wearer and the back plate 3 will form an eii'ective seating for the pneumatic pressure in the casing 1. The member 17 of the valve connected to the resilient extension 13 of the bladder 2 is adapted Vto be tucked into a suitable pocket 232L arranged on the body portion of the beit. This pocket 23a is formed by hemmingover a portion of a loop 24.` which is adapted to slide on the body belt 7. The slidingloop on the belt may be made of any suitable material such as webbing or velvet.

Ina modified construction as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. the pad members or the like are constructedl entirely of rubber. The portion 25 taking the place of the back plate oit substantially thick rubber or other suitable material suc-h as metal reinforced rubber. To this rubber plate 25 is vulcanized or secured in any other convenient manner a substantially hemispherical thin rubber bag` 26 which is vadapted to provide a resilient pneumatic pad. This pad is integrally formed with the resilient tubular connection 27 which is fitted witha suitable valve 23 adapted to act in the mannerpr'eviously described. kThe back plate l25is provided with a pair of vertical slots 29 for the reception of the body belt or the like `which i in this case may be made of rubber or o'sueh material that the truss can be worn during bathing or at night. The back plate 25 is also provided with a horizontal slot 301cm' lthe reception of the hip belt 10. Each pad ible materialr 31 of substantially hemispherical shape.V To the washleather 31 is sewn or otherwise secured iour pieces of tape or the like to provide two vpairs of securing members 32 and 33. The ends of the o-ppositely arranged tapes 32 and 33 are provided with co-operating fastening devices 3d such as press-button fasteners so that each pair of members can be detachably connected together. The side tape members 32areA adapted to pass through the vertical slots 29 in the base member 25 kand. be "detachablyveonnected to each other at `the rear or the base 25 and the two vertical tapes 33 are adapted to be detachably connected to each other at the rear 'of the hase member 25 in ia similar manner.l The lower v'tape is adapted to pass through the horizontal arranged slot 30 in the base member 25. Thus the washleather covering or the like 313 can be readily removed romthe pad member'26 when desired. The body belt isada-ptejd to f be threaded through the 'vertical slots 29 as in the previous construction, and this Abelt may be provided with loops lia-ving pockets for the `valves 28 as bel'oreV mentioned. vThe pressure oit the airin the pads is obtained by mea-ns oi? the p ump previously deseribe'dand this pressure may be relieved by lunscrewing or partly unscrewing the valves. In use and assuming it is desired to wear, for instance, a waterproof truss and that the pads are arranged on a belt of webbing or like material, the pad members can be readilyl removed from the belt, the hip straps and the washleather portions 31 of the pads may also readily be removed. The two rubber pad members of, for instance, a double truss can be readily placed on a leather or rubber body belt which may or may not be provided with hip straps. In this instance, the loop members 24 forming the pockets for the valves of the pad members may be con- 'structed of rubber or like waterproof material or they may be omitted. Thus the truss can be readily converted so that it may be worn at any time. It is also unnecessary to alter the pressure of the air in the pads when they are taken olf one belt and placed upon another.

In a further modifiedv construction as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the hemispheria cal pad members 1 are secured around their peripheral edges between plates 3 and 4 of metal preferably aluminum. This back plate 3 is provided at opposite sides with slots 6 of substantially rectangular shape for the reception of the ends of the body belt 7 of any suitable material, such as webbing or elastiomaterial. In this instance, the ends or' the belt 17 are hemmed over to provide loops to secure the back plate 3I thereto. The hip belt 10 is passed through the horizontal slot 9 and he-mmed over as in the previous construction. The back plate 3 is formed with a central aperture 36 of substantially circular shape and this circular shaped aperture 36 is adapted to be closed by the cover plate 37 pivotally mounted at 38 on the said base plate 3. This rotatably mounted cover plate 37 is of substantially circular shape and is adapted to be locked in position on the base plate 3 by a pin 39 on the said base plate 3 engaging in a cam shaped slot or recess 40 formed in the cover plate 37. Within the resilient casing 1 of the pad member which is preferably con-v structed of washleather or other suitable material is adapted to be placed a bladder or the like 2. This bladder 2 is adapted to be inserted in the casing through the hole 36 provided in the back plate 3.k The resilient extension 13 carrying the portions 16 and 17 or" the valve member is adapted to project through a suitable slot 41 cut in the hinged cover plate 37 and the valve is adapted to be retained in position against the belt 7 by means of a sliding loop 24 arrangedthereon. In this instance, the'bladder 2 can be readily removed and replaced by partially rotating the pivoted plate 37 on its pivot to permit of tlie bladder 2 to be drawn outv through the opening in the said 'plate 3.

cooperating threaded members, the memberY 16 being secured'to lthe flexible connection 13 of the bladder 2 as previously .described i and the other member 17 being formed with a nipple 18 on which is adapted to be screwed any suitable form of pump. The member 17 is formed with an interior tubular extension 42 and is provided with a plurality of air inlet openings 43. Between the extension 42 and the portion 16 is arranged a suitable form of resilient washer 44 which is adapted to prevent the exit of air through an aperture 45 in the member 16 when the said washer 44 is'screwed up tightly between the said extension 42 and the portion 16. When it is desired to pump air into the bladder 2 the portion 17 is partly unscrewed from the portion 16 connected to the bladder to permit the air to pass through the oriices 43 around the threads of the member '17 past the washer 44 and through the orices 45 into the bladder. When suicient air is pumped into the bladder the member 17 is screwed upon' the member 16 to secure the washer 44 therebetween and close the oriy What I claim is 1. Inra surgical truss or the like, a backing plate formed with belt receiving edge slots, a flexible casing removably secured to said backing plate, `an inilatable pad arranged in said casing, and means projecting through said casing and communicating with said inflatable pad to permit the connection of an inflating means thereto for inflating the pad at will.

2. In a surgical truss or the like, a backing plate, an inflatablepad, said backing plate being formed withan opening through which the padv may be bodily inserted, an inflating tube carried by and projecting Jrom the pad, and a cover plate carried by the backing plate to close the opening in the latter, said cover plate beine formed with a slot to permit the passage 0I the inflating tube.

3.Y In a surgical truss or the like, a backing plate formed with belt receiving edge slots, an inflatable pad removably lsecured to said backing plate, iniating means carried by and communicating with said pad, and means adapted to be mounted on the belt to receive and supportsaid iniating means.

4. In a surgical truss or the like, a backing platel formed with belt receiving edge slots, an inflatable pad removably secured to said backing plate, a iiexible tube carried by and communicatingy with said pad, a valved nipple projecting from said tube and adapted to receive inlating means, and a 5. In a, surgical truss orthe like, a backr ing plate formed with belt receiving edge slots, a flexible pad cover removably secured to the backing plate, an inflatable pad ar- `ram-ged Withnisad eoveryzui iniating tube carried by and communicating Withsaidpad, and means cooperating With the body belt 10 to receive and support said inflating tube.

In ytestimony whereof I have hereunto. signed my name.

THOMAS BEASLEY. 

